Falkirk strengthen top-six challenge with victory away to St Mirren

Falkirk’s impressive return to the top flight continued as second-half goals from Finn Yeats and Calvin Miller sealed a deserved 2-0 win over St Mirren at the SMiSA Stadium.

The Bairns took the lead shortly after half-time when Yeats curled into the top corner from 25 yards after Saints keeper Shamal George found himself stranded out of his goal.

Miller then made sure of the points just after the hour mark as he capitalised on some static St Mirren defending to race on to his own blocked shot before dinking the ball over George.

It was an afternoon to forget for St Mirren, who lost Liam Donnelly, Killian Phillips and George to injury as they slipped to a third straight defeat.

Falkirk had the first opening in the 18th minute when Barney Stewart laid the ball off to Dylan Tait, whose curling effort from just outside the box took a slight deflection before cannoning off the top of the crossbar.

St Mirren finally threatened just after the half-hour mark when Mikael Mandron shot from a tight angle, forcing Falkirk goalkeeper Scott Bain into a smart stop with his feet.

Falkirk then raced down the other end and the lively Miller was released and allowed to shoot from a similar angle but George comfortably saved.

The match was finally coming to life and Dan Nlundulu was the next to fire at goal in the 36th minute after the Bairns had given up possession cheaply, but it was a routine stop at the near post by Bain.

Nlundulu then got in behind and slid the ball home, though the cheers from the home fans were short-lived as the assistant referee raised his flag for what appeared to be a clear offside.

The hosts had already lost Donnelly to injury midway through the first half and they suffered a further blow when Phillips, who appeared to hurt his shoulder in the opening period, came off at the interval.

The match was crying out for a moment of quality and it came 10 minutes into the second half through Yeats.

Tait’s perfect through ball released Miller, and although George came racing out of his goal and timed his challenge well, the loose ball fell invitingly for Yeats, who curled a stunning first-time finish into the top corner of the unguarded St Mirren goal.

It got even better for the away side just after the hour mark as the Bairns doubled their lead.

Miller’s initial shot from the edge of the box was blocked by Scott Tanser but, as the home defence hesitated, Miller reacted first to run on to the loose ball and lift a right-footed shot over the onrushing George.

St Mirren suffered yet another blow shortly after as the keeper was forced off to be replaced by Ryan Mullen.

The enforced changes and the quickfire goals seemed to rock the hosts and they never threatened a comeback, with their afternoon summed up in the 89th minute when Tanser completely mis-kicked his attempted volley from six yards out.